Best of Bucks County
Where to dine, drink, shop, and expand your mind.
by Bill Donahue

Bucks County will always hold a special place in my heart.
 
My family moved from Northeast Philadelphia to Bucks County when I was 12 or 13 years old. I remember it being a difficult transition, to be honest, but even then I could tell there was something inordinately special about my new home. Slowly, as I came of age, Bucks County’s magic began to reveal itself to me. My estimation of Bucks County has only grown in the years since.
 
With this issue, we celebrate some of the many wonderful restaurants, shops, cultural destinations, and other enterprises that help make this part of the world such a wonderful place to call home.
 
We present our 2025 Best of Bucks County.
 
The Philadelphia area is awash in fantastic breweries, so it’s almost impossible to choose just one. One of our favorites is Broken Goblet in Bensalem, a stone’s throw from the Delaware River. Not only are the beers on tap rather fantastic—we’re partial to a black rye ale called The Fall of Ryesengard—but it’s also a rather festive and tidy entertainment venue. Broken Goblet stages shows of all sorts, including those featuring well-known bands from the punk, metal, and country genres (plus tribute bands honoring the likes of Bowie, Guns N’ Roses, KISS, and Rush), as well as comedians and special events that many locals would find particularly meaningful. One example: Phillies Opening Day. brokengoblet.com
 
At the other end of the spectrum is Crossing Vineyards and Winery. Bucks County has cultivated a thriving wine culture, and oenophiles count this Newtown hot spot as among the area’s finest. It’s been an area staple for 25 years, known for its wide selection of whites, reds, and specialty wines. Can’t make up your mind about which bottle (or two) to take home? Stop by for an in-person wine tasting to sample some of Crossing’s finest homegrown wares. crossingvineyards.com    
 
Plant-based restaurants in the Philadelphia suburbs have taken a beating in recent years, with multiple closures of some local vegetarians’ most beloved dining destinations. So the 2022 opening of Dharma Bums in Point Pleasant (just outside of New Hope) was a cause for celebration … and cautious optimism. Dharma Bums, which borrows its name from a 1958 Kerouac novel, serves up plant-based stunners such as the hot honey cauliflower and waffles in a beautiful stone building once occupied by the bar known as Apple Jack. Its excellent cuisine and craft cocktails, cozy-cool vibe, and penchant for community building have earned Dharma Bums plenty of fans, both near and far; it recently made USA Today’s 2025 Restaurants of the Year. dbums.com
 
During a recent interview, a Bucks County professional who refers to herself as a foodie shared her favorite local restaurants. Gusto Italian Ristorante, a BYOB in Feasterville, was the only place in the top three we weren’t too familiar with, so we had to check it out for ourselves—and we were enthralled. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised given that the chef, Andrea Esposito, is a pizza maker and chef who cut his teeth in his native Naples, Italy. From the fresh-baked breads and handmade pastas to the attentive service, every aspect of the experience exceeded expectations.
gustobyob.wixsite.com/gustofeasterville
 
Any town worth its salt needs a good independent bookstore. In the sprawling shopping and dining destination of Peddler’s Village, The Lahaska Bookshop fits that description to a T. A monument to all things literary, The Lahaska Bookshop—owned by the same folks behind the equally awesome Doylestown Bookshop—possesses a particular brand of magic: an artfully arranged interior, lots of natural light, and a wonderful assortment of titles. Whether a reader prefers poetry or prose, history or horror, romance or magical realism, he or she should find plenty of take-me-home treasures herein. doylestownbookshop.com
 
When it comes to pizza, Bucks County has brought its “A” game. Standouts include DeLorenzo’s in Yardley, Buckingham Pizza in Buckingham, Spuntino and Nat’s in Doylestown, and Warrington Pizza in Warrington. Add Lucatelli’s Pizzeria in Doylestown to the short list. The menu abounds with some super-interesting varieties; crowd pleasers include the gourmet meatball, the wiz wit, the honey hot, and the sausage broccoli rabe. Our favorites: the boardwalk, the margherita, and the capri. lucatellispizzeria.com
 
These days you can get a half-decent cup of coffee just about anywhere. In Quakertown, locals make the quest to The Parlour Tabletop and Tome not only for its excellent hot beverages and modest but sensational food menu, but also for the chance to connect with others over shared interests—be it Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, or well-told fiction. A self-described “tabletop gaming café,” the Parlour brings together board-game enthusiasts and other adventurers of every flavor who appreciate a well-poured cup of chai latte, macchiato, or cold brew, among other menu items. We adore the breakfast parfait. theparlourtabletop.com
 
From Henry Mercer and James Michener to Oscar Hammerstein and Stephen Sondheim, Bucks County has no shortage of creatives who left their thumbprint on American arts and culture. Among the most consequential, however, is Pearl S. Buck. In life, the author of novels including the Pulitzer-winning The Good Earth used her platform to champion human rights, particularly on behalf of people of color, people with disabilities, women, and immigrants. Even though Buck passed away in 1973, her legacy continues through the Pearl S. Buck House in Perkasie. A National Historic Landmark museum, the Pearl S. Buck House is a monument to the life, literature, and lasting influence of a truly remarkable human being. pearlsbuck.org
 
In the heart of Perkasie, locals make a beeline for The Perk. It’s packed every weekend night, and most weeknights, for good reason. It seems like it’s been there forever (its roots go back to 1850); black-and-white photos from Perkasie’s rich history adorn the building’s walls. There’s comfort not only in the history, but also in the consistent experience. Belly up to the bar and pick your poison, or take a seat in the dining room to choose from a far-ranging menu. The Perk’s “famous” pierogies never disappoint. attheperk.com
 
Philly is a pretzel town—correction: the pretzel town—so locals know where to get the best of the bunch. Anyone who lives near Plumsteadville knows to head to The Salt Box for its iteration of Philly’s favorite doughy treat. The Salt Box was brought to life by folks who were born and raised in Philadelphia, and it shows in the quality of the product. While this roadside spot sells its share of traditional soft pretzels, the Salt Box likes to get creative: cinnamon sugar, pecan crumble, even an iteration stuffed with ribeye cheesesteak. Bonus: The Salt Box does much more than pretzels, including a growing list of house cocktails and homemade ice cream under the Sweet Pea label. thepretzelshops.com
 
More to Love in Bucks County
These vibrant enterprises add to the exceptional quality of life for people who live, work, and play in Bucks County.

BED AND BREAKFAST
The Inn at Bowman’s Tower
New Hope
theinnatbowmanshill.com
 
FAMILY LAW
Gibson Family Law
Doylestown
gibsonfamilylaw.com
 
FAMILY PORTRAITURE
Ivory Tree Portraits
Newtown
ivorytreeportraits.com
 
GARDEN CENTER AND LANDSCAPE SERVICES
Bountiful Acres
Holicong
bountifulacres.com
 
HOME RENOVATIONS
Carr Home
Chalfont
carrhome.com    
 
Munz Construction
Holland
munzconstruction.com

INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR PAINTING
Groovy Hues
Newtown
groovyhues.com/philadelphia-pa
 
ITALIAN CUISINE
Bacco Bistro
Doylestown
baccobistro.com
 
MEDSPA
Bella Body Medical Spa
Yardley
bellabodymedicalspa.com
 
NATURAL SKIN CARE
Oil Divine
Newtown
oildivine.com
 
POOLS
KS Pools & Patios
Langhorne
kspoolsandpatios.com
 
REAL ESTATE
Maureen Reynolds | SERHANT.
Serving Bucks County
serhant.com/agents/maureen-reynolds
 
RESIDENTIAL FLOORING
Holland Floor Covering
Newtown
hollandfloor.com
 
RETIREMENT PLANNING
Yardley Wealth Management LLC
Yardley
yardleywealth.net
 
UPSCALE GASTROPUB
McCoole’s at the Historic Red Lion Inn
Quakertown
mccoolesredlioninn.com
 
WINDOWS, DOORS, AND MORE
ACRE Windows & Doors
Serving Bucks County
acrewindows.com
 
Rosenello’s Windows
Andalusia
rosenelloswindows.com
 
Photo by Hope Daluisio for VISIT PHILADELPHIA
 
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, March 2025.